Mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instruments.



C. H. & R. W. WEAVER. MECHANICAL FINGERING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICALINSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9, 1911.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1. M?"

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C. H. & R. W. WEAVER.

MECHANICAL FINGEBING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9, 1911.

1,094,038. Patented Apr. 21, 191 1 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. :4

G. H. & R. W. WEAVER. v

. MECHANICAL FINGERING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9, 1911 1,094,038. Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

R.14[Weave r. Glflarer.

C. H. & R. W. WEAVER.

MECHANICAL FINGERING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION TILED .TAN;9, 1911. Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ammo 0) EMA ears?! C H Nearer:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. WEAVER AND ROLLIN W. WEAVER, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM,PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL FINGERING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1911.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Serial No. 601,640.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CIIARLEs H. WVEAVER andROLLIN WV. TEAVER, citizens of the United States, residing at SouthBethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical FingeringDevices for Stringed Musical Instruments; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be full, clear, and exact description of the lnvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to mechanical fingering devices for stringedmusical instruments, such as the guitar, banjo, mandolin, cello, violin,etc., tuned in the usual manner.

The invention consists in general of levers or mechanical fingersoperating directly on the strings of the musical instruments, andconnected in groups so as to enable the mechanical fingering of thevarious musical chords by the operation of a single push button or keyfor each particular chord. The use of this device eliminates injury tothe fingers from continual playing, as is frequently experienced, andenables one unskilled in technical music to easily and quickly acquiresufiicient skill to play accompaniments on stringed instruments of thisorder.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, formations, combinations andarrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which v Figure 1 is atop elevation of the device as applied to the neck and finger board of aguitar; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; 3 is a transverse,vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 7 Fig. 4 is a partiallongitudinal vertical sectional view, showing two inclined planes innormal position; Fig. 5 is thesame as Fig. 4:, showing operation of onemechanical finger by means of the inclined plane; F G is the same asFig. 4, showing operation of an inclined plane, without affecting thefinger here shown in normal position; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view of the device, showing the carriage or case in its normalposition; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of thedevice, showing the case or sliding carriage in another position,illustrating the use of the capo tasto; Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectionalview on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and Figs. 10 and 11 are end elevations,showing general outlines of the device.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1represents a frame, which incases the finger board and upper part of theneck of a musical instrument 2, and has a lower section 3, hinged at oneside on a rod 4:. The hinged lower section is fitted to the neck of theinstrument, and has pieces of felt or similar material 5 interposedbetween it and the neck to deaden any metallic sound or vibration. Oneside of the lower section is curved, as at 6, to provide a suitable gripfor the hand, as well as giving the section a spring grip upon the neckof the instrument. Vertical posts or pillars 7 are provided at each endof the frame to give stiffness to the structure. The edge of the undersection is rounded out as at 8, and at intervals flattened as at 9, toreceive the locking nut 10, several of which are provided, and pivotedon the edge of the upper section of the frame. Two opposite slides 11are placed in the sides of the upper section, on which slides thecarriage or case 12, containing the operating mechanism, a hood or outercovering 13 being provided, which slides on the outer faces of theslides 11. A spring-retaining stop pin 14 is attached to the hood 13,and passes through holes punched in the slides 11 and carriage 12 atcertain intervals, since it is desirable to slide the carriage down theneck of the instrument to obtain a variety of notes for which a newpitch is obtained by the use of the capo tasto, this being composed of across bar 15 made to bear against the strings 16 and having the endpieces 15. A rod 17 has on its upper end a knurled head, being threadedat its central portion to pass through a. cross member 18, and havingits lower end pass through a hole in the top of the cross bar 15, arecess being formed in said cross bar, within which the end of the rod17 extends, and is retained by a washer pinned to its lower end. Theends of the cross bar 18 fit into the slides 11 of the frame, and thusallow of the sliding of the capo taste to any desired position, a clip50 being placed over the cross member 18 and extending down the sides ofthe cross bar 15, to retain said bar in alinement when adjustedvertically. The object of this capo tasto is to shorten the vibratinglength of the open strings when the carriage is slid forward to obtain avariety of notes.

The mechanism within the slidably mounted case 12 is actuated by the dewward pressure of any one of a series of buttons 19 formed on the ends ofthe bent levers These bent levers 53 are pivoted at points 20 andprovided with slots 22 through which. pass pins 21 which are attached toand project from the lower part of pistons 31. In the case of a mandolinfor example, the instrument is tuned in fifths, the strings from thelowest pair of unisons being respectively G, D, A and E. On such aninstrument, this device is adapted to produce the standard major andminor chords of a given key according to the cape tasto. The pistons 31are rigidly secured to the cross pieces 23, which are a part of orattached to adjacent cross pieces 24-, on the lower side of which areformed inclined planes or surfaces 25. These inclined planes strikeagainst the pins attached to the longitudinal slidably mounted bars 27,imparting to said bars a longitudinal motion, the direction of whichdepends on which way the inclined planes face. To eliminate all possiblefriction, the pins 26 are provided with rollers or sleeves 28. Verticalcylinders 29 are fastened by suitable means, as rivets 30, to the top ofthe carriage 12, these cylinders being lo cated over each cross bar 23and containing a piston 31, which is attached to the cross piece 23, thespring 32 sustaining the piston at its upward point, thus normallyholding the cross bar 23 in its upward position until pressed down bythe action of the finger lever 19.

l astened in the lower part of the carriage 12 are a series oflongitudinal bars 33, held in position by rods 34; and stiffeners Onthese bars are pivoted the mechanical fingers 36, by means of pins orrivets 37. The lingers are of substantially triangular shape, beingpivoted at one apex, having a pin 88 at another apex, cushioned by asleeve 39, made of cork or other suitable material; these sleeves bearagainst the strings when the fingers are operated consequently areliable to considerable wear, and are so constructed that they may beeasily renewed when necessary. The other points of the triangles areprovided with a -0 in which are slid the pins i1 when it is desiredoperate a particular finger, said pins being provided withfriction-eliminating rollers l2. The pins 11 are fastened to theslidably mounted longitudinal bars 27 placed directly over the bars 82and mounted on transverse rods 13, being suitaoiy spaced by means ofsleeves 44-. These rods pass through slots in the bars 27 and rollerbearings 15, are inserted to eliminate all possible friction. The barsare retained in their normal position by means of coil springs 4L6,fastened to the lower edges of these bars and the upper edges of thefixed bars 33. Flat leaf springs 47 are attached. to the end of thecasing 12, hearing against the sides of the slidably mounted bars 27,tending to hold the same from lateral displacement. These springs arealso provided at their ends with a projecting portion 41:8, which ts inslight depressions in the bars 27 when in their normal position, thustending to hold them in place until operated by the inclined planes.Lugs 19 are formed r on the slidable bars 27, to retain the mechanicalfingers 36 in an upright position when not in operation. Projections 51are formed on the inside of the cylinders 29, and extend within thevertical slots 52 cut in the piston 31 to prevent rotation of same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by suitable arrangements of theinclined planes 25, the pins 26 and 38 and the mechanical fingers 36, avariety of chords may be produced by the mechanical stopping orfingering of the 'various strings, tlnrough the operation of the fingerbuttons 19. By releasing the stop pin and sliding the carriage or case12 along the frame until the stop engages the next set of holes, thensliding the capo tasto upon the carriage and seem-u g it down againstthe strings, their vilu'atiug lengths will be lessened and. a new pitchconsequently obtained.

The d vice maj be manufactlured to embrace a few or all of the chordsobtainable on such instruments, the one illustrated showing it appliedto a guitar.

in particular feature of the device is the use of inclined planes orsurfaces as the means for operating the mechanical fin ercontrollingbars, it being a partici': rl y advantageous construction, and giving asmooth, easy action to the operati Having thus fully described ourinvention, what we claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A mechanical fingering device for stringed mu cal instrumentscomprising a casing, means for clamping said casing upon the neck of aninstrument, a carrr go slidably mounted thereon, and mechanism locatedon the carriage for engagement with the strings of the instrument.

A mechanical fingering device stringed instruments comprising a. him

e I \I) casing en rclmg the neck and l111g(31-l.) l21l\. of aninstrument, bolts 1. u: retaining sau casing, a carriage shdably mountedthereon, and mechanism located on the carriage for engagement with thestrings of the inst-rument.

3. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instruments, acasing having an upper and lower section encircling the neck of aninstrument, a longitudinal ridge or raised portion formed on the lowersection to furnish a grip for the hand of the operator, as Well as toprovide a spring action in gripping the neck of the instru ment, and aslidably mounted carriage upon the upper section of said casing, andmechanism provided in said carriage for engagement with the strings ofthe instrument.

4. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a casing encircling the neck of an instrument, longitudinalslides formed on said casing, a carriage engaging said slides andadapted to run thereon, and mechanism mounted in the carriage to engagethe strings of the instrrunent.

5. A mechanical fingering de ice for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a casing encircling the neck of the instrument, a carriageslidably mounted upon said casing, a hood covering the carriage and partof said casing and slidable within the carriage, and mechanism mountedon said carriage for engaging the strings of the instrument.

(3. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a casing mounted upon the neck of an instrument, a carriageslidably mounted on said casing, a hood covering said carriage, aspring-retained stop-pin attached to said hood for the purpose offastening said hood and carriage to the frame, and mechanism mounted insaid carriage for engaging the strings of the instruments.

7. A mechanical fingering device for stringed instruments consisting ofa casing mounted upon the neck or finger-board of the instrument, acarriage slidably mounted upon the casing, mechanism mounted in saidcarriage for engaging the strings of the in. struments, and a capo tastomounted on a transverse bar, the ends of which are slid ably mounted insaid frame.

8. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instruments,comprising a frame encircling the neck and fingerboard of saidinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, longitudinal barsrigidly fixed within said carriage, mechani cal fingers pivoted to saidlongitudinal bars, and means for operating said mechanical fingers.

9. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and finger-board of theinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, longitudinal barsfixed Within said carriage, mechanical fingers pivoted to said fixedbars, longitudinally slidable bars mounted upon and above said fixedbars, and pins arranged on said slidable bars engaging said mechanicalfingers and means for sliding the bars.

10. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and finger-board of theinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, longitudinal barsfixed within said carriage, having pivoted thereto mechanical fingersfor pressing the strings against the finger-board of the instrument,said fingers of substantially triangular form pivoted at one apex to thefixed longitudinal bars, and a pin surrounded by a sleeve of softmaterial fastened at another apex for bearing against the strings of theinstrument.

11. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and finger-board of theinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted thereon, longitudinally fixedbars carrying pivoted mechanical fingers "astened to said carriage,slidable bars mounted above said fixed bars, pins fastened thereto thesaid fingers each having slots formed therein, the said pins engagingsaid slots and moving said fingers and means for sliding the bars.

1:2. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and finger-board of theinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted thereon, fixed lon itudinal barscarrying pivoted mechanical fingers mounted on said carriage,longitudinally slidable bars mounted above said fixed bars, transverserods fixed in said carriage passing through slots in the slidablc bars,l sleeves mounted on said rods between slidable bars substantially asdescribed.

13. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and. fingerboard of theinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, longitudinal barsfixed within said carriage, mechanical fingers pivoted to said fixedbars, slidable bars mounted above the fixed bars and lugs projectingfrom said slidable bars for engaging and retaining the mechanicalfingers in an upright position when not in operation and means forsliding the bars.

14:. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and fingerboard of the instrument,a carriage slidably mountea' on said frame, longitudinal bars fixedwithin said carriage, mechanical fingers pivoted to said bars,longitudinally slidable bars mounted above the fixed bars having lugsengaging the mechanical fingers, coil springs attached to the under sideof the slidable bars and the upper side of the fixed bars for thepurpose of retaining said slidable bars in a normal position and meansfor sliding the bars.

A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame emln'acing the neck and finger-board of theinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted on the frame, longitudinal barsfixed within said carriage, mechanical finpivoted to said bars, slidablebars mounted above the fixed bars and engaging the said mechanicalfingers, pins fixed on the slidable bars, and transverse bars havingdowinvardly extending inclined planes or surfaces, for engaging saidpins and means for sliding the bars.

16. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and finger-board of an instrument,a carriage mounted thereon, longitudinal bars fixed within saidcarriage, mechanical fingers pivoted to said bars, longitudinal slidablebars mounted above the fixed bars engaging said mechanical fingers, anda series of vertical sliding transverse bars having inclined surfaces orplanes attached thereto engaging said slid ably mounted longitudinalbars, and means for sliding said transverse bars.

1'7. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and finger-board of theinstrument, a carriage slidably mounted thereon, longitudinal bars fixedin said carriage, mechanical fingers pivot-ed to sa d. bars, slidablymounted bars above the fixed bars, pins variously arranged on saidsidable bars for engaging said mechanical lingas, a plurality ofvertical slidable transverse bars mounted near the top of the saidcarriage, dowrnvardly extending inclined planes or sumac-es for engagingwith said pins on the slidable bars, and pivoted levers secured to thetransverse bars for the purpose of sliding same in a vertical direction.

18. A mechanical fingering device for stringed instrun'ients comprisinga frame surrounding the neck and fingerboard of the instrument, acarriage slidably mounted on frame, longitudinal bars fixed within saidcarriage, n'iechanical fingers pivoted to said bars, slidably mountedbars above the l Stllh fixed bars, a plurality of vertically slidabletransverse bars having downwardly extending inclined planes for engaginsaid slidable bars, levers for sliding the transverse bars, pistonsattached to the upper sides of the transverse bars, cylinders secured tothe top of the carriage and surroundii'ig said pistons, springs mountedin said cylinders for holding said pistons in raised position wherebythe said transverse bars are normally held out of engagement with theslidable longitudinal bars.

1. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame embracing the neck and fingerboard of the instrument,longitudinal bars fixed within said frame, mechanical fingers pivoted tosaid bars, slidably mounted bars above the fixed bars, a plurality ofvertically slidable transverse bars having downwardly ex tendinginclined planes or surfaces for engaging said slidable bars, levers forengaging the transverse bars, spring-pressed pistons attached. to theupper sides of the transverse bars, and cylinders fastened to the top ofthe frame to receive said pistons, whereby the said transverse bars arenorn'ially held out of engagement with the slidablc longi tudinal bars.

20. A mechanical fingering device for stringed musical instrumentscomprising a frame, a mecl1anism-containing carriage slidably mountedupon said frame, said frame encircling the neck and finger board of theinstrument, a capo tasto comprising a cross member, the ends of whichare slidably mounted in said frame, an adfljisting screw mountedcentrally of said cross men'iber, a cross bar adapted for engage mentwith the strings of the instrument transversely thereof mounted withinthe frame and operatively connected with the adjusting screw, said crossbar being arranged in parallel alinement with the cross member and meansfor holding said cross bar in parallel alinement with the cross membermounted upon said cross member and engaging the sides of the cross ar.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES H. l Ef-e TEE. RGLLTN W. WEAVER. Witnesses O'rro D. Hadrian,Hanvmf .lonnsox.

Sonics of this patent ma be obtained for five cents eao "by addressin'the Commissioner of "Patents,

1, u a b "Washington, D. G.

